The HSE has reported a “significant” increase in measles infections in several areas of the UK and Europe, and is advising parents to ensure their children have the vaccination, reports RTE.
It has urged individuals to take action to stop the virus from spreading, such as ensuring that kids receive the most recent version of the MMR vaccine, which also guards against the mumps and rubella.
According to Dr. Lucy Jessop, director of the HSE’s National Immunisation Office, the virus can spread swiftly among unvaccinated individuals and has the potential to be dangerous, especially for young children and other susceptible populations.
She said: “Getting vaccinated against diseases like measles, mumps and rubella is vitally important as these conditions can also lead to other serious problems including meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy,” reports RTE.
“Remember, if you or your child has missed their childhood vaccines, it’s not too late to catch up,” she added, reports RTE.
She said on Today with Claire Byrne that measles is very contagious and that a single case can quickly spread to up to twelve more people.
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